2010 Hugo Nominations

(image by me!)

Here are my Hugo Nominations. The deadline is this Saturday (March 13, 2010). If you're planning on nominating, hurry!

Best Novel

The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi, Night Shade Books
Yellow Blue Tibia, Adam Roberts, Gollancz
The City & The City, China Mieville, Del Rey
Finch, Jeff VanderMeer, Underland Press
The Manual of Detection, Jedediah Berry, Penguin

I thought this was a particularly good year for novels. I had some trouble finalizing the list. I actually think this year some of my nominees might make the ballot.

Best Novella

"Ars Memoriae," Beth Bernobich, PS Publishing
"The Women of Nell Gwynne's," Kage Baker, Subterranean Press
"Act One," Nancy Kress, Asimov's 3/09

I had the pleasure of working on the Bernobich book. She's been a great find for a new-to-me writer. I'm sure there were more nomination-worthy novellas, but I had trouble remembering them when it came time to fill out my ballot.

Best Novelette

"The Death of Sugar Daddy," Toiya Kirsten Finley, Electric Velocipede 17/18
"Eros, Philia, Agape," Rachel Swirsky, Tor.com 3/3/09
"The Island, Peter Watts," The New Space Opera 2
"One of Our Bastards is Missing," Paul Cornell, The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume Three
"This Wind Blowing," and this Tide, Damien Broderick, Asimov's 4-5/09

Another category with lots of great stuff. In some cases I almost felt like it was a coin toss between potential choices. Obviously I'm biased with the Finley piece, but hey.

Best Short Story

"Setting My Spider Free," Caroline Yoachim, Electric Velocipede 17/18
"The Spaces Between Things," Matthew Kressel, Electric Velocipede 17/18
"The Boy Who Could Bend and Fall," Ken Scholes, Electric Velocipede 19
"Darkest Amber," Erin Hoffman, Electric Velocipede 19
"Spar," Kij Johnson, Clarkesworld 10/09

Again, working out of my own stable here. Honestly, "Spar" is such a strong story (and watch it not make the ballot or something silly) that I don't know if it matters what else is nominated. Regardless, I try to support my authors where I can. I only have so many slots and I have to make choices. Please understand, you are all Hugo winners in my mind.

Best Related Work

Booklife, Jeff VanderMeer, Tachyon
This Is Me, Jack Vance!, Jack Vance, Subterranean Press
On Joanna Russ, Farah Mendlesohn, ed., Wesleyan University Press
Knowing Darkness: Artists Inspired by Stephen King, George Beahm, Centipede Press

I wish I had the $$ to get a copy of the Centipede Press book. Suffice it to say, it's impressive. I actually almost sent my ballot in without Booklife, and I would have regretted that. I don't even write and I've found the book invaluable.

Best Graphic Story

Freak Angels, Warren Ellis, Avatar Press
Locke & Key: Head Games, Joe Hill, IDW

I almost left this blank and then I remembered that I had read a few things this past year. The Joe Hill in particular is amazing.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

District 9, Key Creatives
UP, Pixar

Just like Graphic Story, I mentally skipped this initially. I don't get a chance to see a lot of genre film, but these I did. I was quite impressed with District 9.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Hollow Men, Dollhouse
Jughead, LOST
La Fleur, LOST

Just like Long Form, I don't watch much genre television, but I do watch LOST and I had watched Dollhouse. In fact, I watched the entire second season of Dollhouse in a marathon session just a few weeks ago. I was impressed what they did with the story and wonder what they might have done with more time.

Best Editor, Short Form

John Joseph Adams
Neil Clarke
Scott H. Andrews
Jonathan Strahan
John Klima

I realize that I sent in a nomination ballot of all male editors. Hmm, that's not good. At least I make up for it in the Long Form category. Suffice to say, if for some crazy reason I make the ballot, I will do everything I can to be in Melbourne this summer.

Best Editor, Long Form

Juliet Ulman
Liz Gorinsky
Diana Gill
Lou Anders
Ginjer Buchanan

I really would be beyond thrilled to see Juliet Ulman make the ballot. Six books Juliet edited that came out last year made Locus' annual recommended reading list: Gears of the City by Felix Gilman, Palimpset by Catherynne M. Valente, Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout, Spell Games by T. A. Pratt, Total Oblivion, More or Less by Alan DeNiro, and The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. And I think on the strength of The Windup Girl alone she should be on the ballot.

Best Professional Artist

Stephan Martiniere, Cyberabad Days
Adam Tredowski, Interzone
T. Davidsohn, Electric Velocipede
Jon Foster, Heart of Veridon
John Coulthart, Finch

It felt weird putting together a ballot without my friend and super-talented artist John Picacio on it. But, I tried to go over the art I had seen from last year and nominate from within that (with a nod to Mr. Davidsohn). I've been really impressed with Stephan Martiniere for years and think he deserves the award.

Best Semiprozine

Clarkesworld Magazine
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Weird Tales
Interzone
Electric Velocipede

Well, now I'm fighting with the big boys. I don't expect to make the ballot. But, stranger things have happened. Suffice to say, if for some crazy reason I make the ballot, I will do everything I can to be in Melbourne this summer.

Best Fan Writer

Mike Glyer, File 770
Kevin Standlee, Fandom Is My Way of Life
Matthew Cheney, Mumpsimus

There are a million people who could be nominated in this area, so I just wanted to highlight a few. I have to say, after being "pitted" against Mr. Glyer last year in Best Fanzine, I think he does phenomenal work.

Best Fanzine

Starship Sofa
File 770

I know that Tony and Starship Sofa are petitioning themselves a little harder than some people might like, but they do cool work. And, as I note above, Glyer is doing great work, and he does it at File 770.

Best Fan Artist


no nominations

I just don't know enough about the people who are eligible. I'd rather not make any nominations than make nominations based on a list that someone else put together. Please feel free to point out any noteworthy sources of Fan Artist information so I can correct this for the future.

John W. Campbell Award

Felix Gilman, Thunderer
Saladin Ahmed, "Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela"
Shira Lipkin, "The Angel of Fremont Street"
Brent Weeks, The Way of Shadows
Gail Carriger, Soulless

I never know with this category. It will be interesting to see who makes the final list.